Hoboken robbery thwarted as mugger leaves empty-handed

HOBOKEN – A Good Samaritan came to
the aid Tuesday of a 26-year-old Hoboken man who was struggling with
a robber trying to steal a phone, police reports said.

Police were called to Second and
Harrison streets Tuesday at 4:50 p.m. where they met an
Adams Street resident who said someone had tried to grab his phone while walking away from the Second Street Light Rail Station, reports said.

The victim said he was walking east on Second
Street when the man – who he had just noticed standing by a ticket machine at the
station – tried to yank the phone from his hand, reports said.

The victim fell to the ground as he
struggled to hold onto the device, while the thief tried to pry it from his
hands, reports said.

A witness, who had called 911, said he
heard a scream and saw the assailant standing over the victim trying
to take the phone, reports said.

The would-be-robber left the scene
after the witness warned him he was calling police, reports said.